Pastor's Note

Stay Connected This Summer

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:47:18 -0500

We are now squarely in the summer season, which, for many of us, means abnormal schedules, travel, and vacation opportunities. This also means that we may be more sporadically plugged into the events and rhythms of church! That's not necessarily a bad thing - just a reality of the season. But we might miss some things, so I want to encourage you to engage in a few specific ways!

First, if you are a member, please vote on our proposed deacons and revision to the constitution and bylaws. An email was sent to you with the voting link, or you can pick up a hard copy in the office. In fact, if you are reading this and are a member, vote now!

Second, join us for the Family Gathering on July 26th, immediately after church. We'll eat together, and there we will review and vote on next year's budget. We'll also give various updates regarding the life of the church, and give opportunity for any questions you may have.

Third, join us for the Summer Shindig. On August 1st, we'll join for this annual event of fun and games and food. It's a potluck, so bring a meat, side, or dessert. Invite friends and neighbors as well! Additionally, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary this summer, so join us for church the next morning, as we celebrate 60 years of God's faithfulness to us.

Fourth, connect with those who have been engaged in missions! Taylor Dick, Christopher Dunn, and Ainsley Duell have all been on short term trips. A group of our students went to Denver last week to serve with Denver Youth for Christ. And, of course, the Lewises are in town from North Africa. As you have opportunity, I'm sure you would be benefited by engaging with any of them and hearing about their experiences serving the Lord. And pray the Lord would be at work in all of us, engaging us in gospel mission.

May the Lord bless you in these summer months, knowing that He is good and faithful in every season.

Elder Update from June

Dave Lewis — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:16:02 -0500

Our June elder meeting was held July 1. Josh gave us an update on their mission; we were encouraged and spent time in prayer for their mission.

Much of the remaining time was spent formulating a budget for the 26-27 fiscal year. You should be receiving that proposed budget from the elders in the next day or two, along with other important information for the upcoming Family Gathering. Please watch for that email, review the information, pray, and be ready to vote at the July 26 Family Gathering.

Current year giving (through 11 months) is substantially short of budgeted giving and actual expenses, and below prior year giving. (Hopefully, this is not a surprise as year to date giving vs budget is shown every week in the CBC Weekly). As a result, the proposed 26-27 budget reflects a decrease from the current year budget. The largest cuts are in Missions, Operations/Tech and Debt Service.

In recent years, the missions budget has been based on a percentage of giving that has varied between 10% and 12%. The proposed budget represents a fixed budget amount that is slightly in excess of 10% of estimated giving. This amount meets current missions obligations to our existing missions partners.

Our debt service payments have exceeded that required, which would result in paying our loan off 2.5 years early. The proposed budget would reduce our debt payment to the required payment, but still result in paying our loan off by the maturity date.

The Tech team has recommended changing vendors for tech support, providing substantial savings. It should be recognized that CBC's budget for Operations and Tech is substantially less than that of other churches of similar size. This has been achieved through the generous, skilled and enthusiastic work of volunteers. Grounds work (winter and summer), and much of our tech and operations maintenance is volunteer based. Thanks to those honoring God by sharing their time and abilities with the church.

The budgeting process included time spent by the elders in prayer and consideration of how we can be faithful and wise stewards. Just as each of us should be good stewards with the resources God generously provides, our church is called to do the same. Budget cuts seem discouraging, but it is encouraging to see the overall picture; being a church and people who actively participate in missions, evangelism and discipleship and regularly meet in joyful worship where the Good News is preached!

Please feel free to reach out to any of the elders with questions prior to the Family Gathering if possible. As always, there will be Q&A at the Family Gathering. By tradition, there will also be a meal to share and we look forward to sharing this meal together with great joy!

Opposition to Gospel Effort

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:05:00 -0500

Satan is aggressively opposed to the proclamation and spread of the gospel. I think this is clearly established in Scripture and life experience. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says; "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ..." In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Paul tells the church he wanted to visit them, but Satan prevented it. Jesus Himself, in the parable of the soils, teaches that Satan comes and snatches away gospel seeds that have been sown on the hard path (and not in good soil). Scripture wants us to know that if we endeavor to take the gospel out, we should not be surprised by opposition and resistance. That's not strange, but par for the course. I experienced this in a very small measure this week. Christianity Explored, a tool for sharing the gospel through the book of Mark, was hosting a zoom call to outline its updated content, approach, and web and mobile platform. All throughout the call, someone had broken into the call and was writing and drawing obscene material on the screen. It was distracting and frustrating for all. It was also an indication, I believe, of spiritual opposition to the advance of the gospel (and in a way an encouragement that this is a worthwhile ministry). And, it was not surprising. We ought to expect opposition to gospel effort. Incidentally, I would again encourage you, if you are at all able, to join us Sunday evening as the Lewises tell us about their time on the mission field. You can be sure they have faced some kind of opposition. We can also be sure the Lord has sustained and provided along the way. Hearing about all of it I think will more greatly prompt us to pray for and support them, and also to work toward gospel advancement ourselves - despite whatever opposition we may face.

What Vacation Reminds Me

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:05:00 -0500

As you read this, Lord willing, I will be on vacation with my family and enjoying some rest and rejuvenation. Whenever I take vacation time, I find myself reflecting on a few things. I'm greatly relieved to be able to step away and rest, and be reminded that all things are in the Lord's hands. Truthfully, every time we even go to sleep it's a reminder that the world is not dependent on our conscious activity. We ultimately are not needed. Only the Lord is. (Some things are even better when we are removed from the equation.) I'm encouraged as I am reminded that the church has many wonderful servants and teachers and volunteers. While I visit a couple other churches, I also get the blessing of seeing other faithful, gospel-proclaiming churches. It's an encouragement to see, in a way I don't often experience, the worship of other expressions of the body of Christ. I'm also reminded of how challenging it can be to both prepare to be gone, and miss some good things while gone! One of the good things I'll miss is the arrival of the Lewis family. Unless I am mistaken, I believe they are the first long-term, international missionaries CBC has sent into the field. They obviously hold a special place in our heart, and will be an encouragement to many to have with us for a few weeks this summer. At some point we'll host an evening and give them some time to share (details will follow - or may have already been communicated - on that). I would encourage you to encourage them and hear from them while they are with us. As they are with us, I think we will all be reminded how good it is to be together, and what we miss when we are apart. And as you do your own vacationing and traveling, I hope you will find some time to reflect on the gift we have in our local fellowship.

"Puritan"—What Comes to Mind?

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:55:00 -0500

When you hear the word "Puritan," what comes to mind? For most people, who may not be as familiar with church history as we generally are, the word Puritan has associations of prudishness and uptight morality. We even have a word for it - "puritanical." It is true that they, as a rule, took matters of Christian ethics very seriously. But sometimes the general, secular reputation is undeserved. And sometimes their devotion to biblical morality plays out in surprising ways. I was reminded of one example of this while thinking about the business of church discipline and excommunication. Somewhat famously and surprisingly, there is record of a Puritan church excommunicating one of its members for his sexual activity - or lack thereof. One particular married church member came to the idea that it was sinful for him to sleep with his wife. When the church caught wind of it, they actually held trial and brought him under discipline for refusing his wife her conjugal rights.

Mark Dever writes of the infamous case; “On the other hand, one of the most famous facts about the Puritans is that they worked to encourage, and even enforce, sexual relations between spouses. So, “If a husband deserted his wife and remained within the jurisdiction of a Puritan government, he was promptly sent back to her” (Morgan, “Puritans and Sex,” 604). Over sixty years ago, Edmund Morgan’s research unearthed a case in the First Church of Boston where James Mattock was excommunicated because “he denied conjugal fellowship unto his wife for the space of 2 years together upon pretense of taking Revenge upon himself for his abusing of her before marriage” (Cited by Morgan, “Puritans and Sex,” 593). Either for engaging in sex with the wrong person, or for engaging too little with the right person, sex was regarded as a matter easily beset by sin.”

You can recall this the next time you hear someone being accused of being "puritanical."

What VBS Reminded Me

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:25:00 -0500

I am very thankful for all the people who put in so much time to make VBS happen this year. I know I'm biased because my wife had a big hand in writing out the curriculum, but I do think we put together a great week of VBS. From the snacks to the games to the crafts to the decorations to the teaching to the skits and everything in between, along with the leadership of Susan and Callie and a number of others, I was thankful for how everyone was pulling in the same direction to facilitate an engaging and spiritually edifying VBS week. I was reminded that not every church is doing that. One of my daughters got invited to a much larger church's VBS, and her takeaway after the first day was that they didn't really teach about the Bible at all. They did however tell the kids that if they asked Jesus into their hearts, they could get their picture taken in a photo booth and have their photo placed on the wall. They were using the acknowledgement and approval of their peers, and what I would call cheap affirmation, to motivate young people to "say yes" to Jesus in a hyped-up environment while presenting little content of what the gospel actually is, says about us, or calls us to. These kinds of empty calorie calls for decisions, that leave people confused about what it actually means to believe Christ (if I may put it rather bluntly), make me very thankful for our own kids ministry and its approach to long-term discipleship and truly understanding and knowing Jesus. VBS is only a small part of that. Many thanks to all who served, and continue to serve our young people with wisdom and faithfulness.

Applying Biblical Correction to Parenting

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:50:00 -0500

It hadn't occurred to me before Sunday's sermon, but the principles of effective and Christlike correction and reproof in the church, I think, also largely apply to parents as we consider how to best correct our children. On Sunday, we laid out a few principles for faithful correction, including: have a spirit of gentleness; be direct and not passive; be careful not to fall into sin yourself; engage with humility and correct yourself first; correct with discretion; choose your words carefully; make time and don't rush; assume you have misunderstood; give them time to talk; and be ready for a variety of responses. That's a lot to consider. But, you can take a couple of these principles and, with some thought, see how they would help us in the discipline and correction of our own children. For example, correct with discretion. One mistake we might make in parenting is not being discrete in our correcting, and embarrassing our children in front of their siblings or peers. Taking the time to take them aside and have an unhurried conversation can protect their dignity, avoid shame which builds walls and hardens hearing, and gives time to properly hear from the child and bring helpful correction. I recognize of course this isn't always possible! Often a quick word or action of correction is necessary. When a toddler is running into the street, or one child is attacking another, decisive action is necessary. But even after the moment, you might take the child aside and explain why a different action would have been necessary or preferable. This is something I could probably work on in my own home! To think through another principle, giving the child an opportunity to talk would be a great help in correction. You might learn they were justified in their action, or you misunderstood the situation. Or, you might give them an opportunity to walk through their decision or action and help them see their error. Either way, there's a better chance of learning and growth if there is an opportunity for the child to thoughtfully consider what had happened, instead of simply being told what to do or not do. This is not to say that every mistake or error ought to be analyzed and discussed - that would exhaust everyone. It is to say that where we see patterns of sins or errors in our children's behavior, we might think about how we would correct others in the church (or how we would want to be corrected), and find the applicable principles helpful.

Leadership Updates

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:30:00 -0500

I wanted to use this space to give you a slight leadership update here at CBC. As many of you may have heard, and sadly for us, Cole and Laura Younger will be moving in a few weeks, as Cole has taken an assistant principal position at an elementary school in Hutchinson, KS. They have made a huge impact on CBC, and we are naturally disappointed to see them go, while trusting God's leading in this next phase of their life. And we will certainly see them around. But this does impact us on a practical/leadership level in a couple ways. First, Laura will remain on staff with us for the time being as Media Coordinator. We think she can fulfill this role remotely. So, she will stay on and we will reevaluate in the new year. Second, Cole will no longer be an elder candidate. We are thankful for his consideration, and pray the Lord will use him to lead and minister well in their new home.

Speaking of leadership candidates, Kyle Becerra continues to meet with me and with the elders in his elder candidacy, which has gone well thus far. Continue to pray for him! Along those lines, this Sunday we will introduce two deacon candidates to you - Luke and Stacy Beltz. We are excited that they are considering this ministry, as they have already demonstrated their hearts as servants. I would encourage you all to pray for and get to know these people if you don't already, in preparation for our vote on them as potential elders and deacons in July.

Lastly, you may have heard that Ben Friesen will serve with us as an intern this summer. In this capacity he will primarily serve in youth and young adult ministries. We are hoping to have at least one summer intern every year, open to those who want to get some experience serving in the local church or who feel some kind of compulsion and/or call to explore such ministry. If you know someone who now or in the future might want to serve as a summer intern, let us know! We are attaching our summer intern description so that anyone who is interested can consider it!

As we move into the summer, please pray for these people as they fulfill their various callings and serve the Lord for His glory!

Elder Update from May

Dave Lewis — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:31:32 -0500

The May elder meeting took place on May 19. We discussed and prayed for concerns of our church family. Some are in broken relationship with one another, some are in broken relationship with God, and others are enduring physical suffering. Since our last elder meeting, two families (as well as our whole church family) are mourning the loss of their loved ones from death. As we prayed, we were encouraged by the faithful witness of those enduring end of life issues, those who have been gifted to care for and encourage others, and of course by a God who holds us in his love, grace, and mercy.

At the last Family Gathering, the elders mentioned the future possibility of adding a staff pastor. There are opportunities for new ministries that have been identified. Some of our existing ministries could use additional staff. Aaron and Russ do not have the capacity for additional ministries; that would require additional staff. So the elders have begun discussion and prayer about how and when that might happen. Please pray with us as we seek direction.

Looking ahead, there will be a special opportunity to contribute to our Caregiving Fund on Sunday, May 31. The Caregiving Fund (for those who are not familiar with it) is funded by contributions from our congregation. Contributions to the Caregiving Fund are over and above our regular giving and are earmarked by donors specifically for helping individuals or families who are experiencing financial needs. Some needs are identified through our deacons who serve our church family. Other needs come in the form of “walk ins” who are not a part of our church but are in need. Other needs are brought directly to the attention of elders or pastors. After thoughtful and prayerful consideration, financial aid can take the form of gift cards to address smaller needs, or more substantial aid. For example, some recent gifts have taken the form of gift cards for gas or food. Other, more substantial gifts have been provided for needs such as rent, utilities, or medical bills. Requests and gifts are treated confidentially. Please take advantage of this giving opportunity as you feel called.

Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Help Shape Sunday School & 242 Groups

Aaron Halvorsen — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:30:00 -0500

We are coming to the end of the spring season and launching into summer, which means a number of things, including grad parties, vacations, VBS, and camps. It also means the end of our Sunday School season and normally scheduled 242 Groups. We do this to give leaders, teachers, and hosts a much-needed rest from regular preparation and leading and serving. It also affords us a time to reevaluate and plan for the next season, giving an opportunity for reshuffling 242 Groups and assessing our Sunday School classes. With that, I'd love any feedback you have. What classes in the past have you especially enjoyed? What classes did you miss that you'd like us to offer again? What has worked and not worked? Who do you like as a Sunday School teacher? Who do you think would make for a good teacher? Regarding 242 Groups, what has worked well in your group? What kinds of discussions or topics might be profitable? Feel free to respond with any feedback you have regarding Sunday School and 242 Groups, and we'll look forward to picking them up again in August!